I used to argue the toss over the iLok and the being treated like a criminal mentality was my line as well.
I too used to feel this way about a lot of things. Things like someone wanting to look through my bag and see my receipt when leaving a Walmart or other stores not being OK with people bringing bags in the store. Then one day I heard how much money Walmart and other stores lose to theft. Once I was in a small convience store, I was doing some work for them, for the store chain and noticed that they had moved all the cigarettes off the counter. I mentioned it and they told me that they had lost about 100 bucks in stolen packs on ONE SHIFT.
It is hard to understand this if you are an honest person. Honest people tend to trust others and generally have no idea how many dishonest people and thieves there are all around them. On the other hand a dishonest person doesn't trust anyone else, they see everyone else as a thief too. Business is in the middle of this as a victim. So, I understand why some companies go with an ilok and if I weren't using a laptop right now I would buy one. It is just one of the costs of living in this world. There is no reason to resent it once you understand just how many people will steal something if they can.
I fully understand how you feel. I don't like being treated like I would steal something, like I may be a thief... but that isn't really what is happening. It isn't personal, it is just sad that there are so many dishonest people all around. People who will steal things they don't even want or need, people who will quickly lie for gain, scammers, and on and on.
Think about it. Business isn't attacking you personally. I found it a waste of time and effort to take being treated like a potential thief as offensive once I came to understand how much is lost to thieves every day.
50 bucks isn't that much and I will get one once I get a dedicated tower DAW.
As Marius said... YMMV.
J